The Trial of the Victorious Generals and ‘Alcibiades’ Shadow’ (Part 1)
Surikov Igor E.
The trial of the generals who won the sea battle of Arginusae in 406 BC was one of the most scandalous episodes of the history of Classical Athens. The event has been more than once treated in scholarly literature, but a number of its aspects still need clearing up. The first part of the article begins with a historiographical excursus; in particular, D. Gish’s recent large study, which is entirely devoted to the process, is critiqued in most detail and its serious shortcomings are pointed out. There follows an analysis of the prosopographical data concerning members of the board of generals in 407–406 BC. It is emphasized, inter alia, that the military leaders subjected to the trial were elected to replace Alcibiades who had been removed from the position of strategos autokrator in large part under the influence of emotions.
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